SURPRISE OCCASIONED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 8 October 1926, Page 7

SURPRISE OCCASIONED

BY RELEASE OF PRISONER. By Telegraph—Pross Association, WELLINGTON, October 7. Considerable comment lias been evoked by the release from prison of Sidney Erne Baume, whose case excited gieat attention when before Courts some months ago. In reply to a question as to the operation of reformative detention measures, the Attorney-General (Hon. I. J. Rolleston) said that, once a mail was sent to goal, it was not the policy of the Prisons Department to supply the public with any information as to the man’s movements while in prison, or as to his subsequent release.. ]f information of that kind were broadcasted it would'bo most unfair to tbe prisoner, ■whom it was hoped to reform, with a view to. making him a good and useful citizen afterwards. If the fact were advertised that a man had just been discharged from prison, what chanco would ho have of making a fresh start? . A sentence of reformative detention was essentially one which was subject to review by the Prisons Board, whose recommendations invariably were acted upon.